- APC Warns: Obaseki Perpetrating Illegality
- Obaseki: I Want To Protect the Legislature
Governor Godwin Obaseki has ordered the immediate renovation of Edo State House of Assembly complex, turning the building into a renovation poject site, in a dramatic move to stop a purported impeachment move against him by opposing lawmakers.
The New Diplomat reports police stormed the Assembly early Thursday morning, amid uncertainty on the reasons behind the move. However, it was coming a day after minority — 10 of the 24 — members of the Assembly impeached the Deputy Speaker, Yekini Idiaye.
Idiaye was impeached after declaring loyalty to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the APC in the September 19 gubernatorial election.
According to reports, the Governor has ordered the removal of the Assembly’s roof and the ongoing offloading of sand and other construction materials around the Assembly building as artisans begin the renovation works.
The early morning invasion, it was later gathered was to aid the 14 lawmakers drumming support for Ize-Iyamu in gaining access to the Assembly, in an action that could potentially lead to the impeachment of Governor Obaseki.
The Governor, his deputy, Philip Shaibu and hundreds of supporters quickly stormed the scene, foiling attempts by the anti-Obaseki lawmakers to go ahead with the alleged move.
Obaseki, while addressing supporters at the scene said: “I want to assure you that as governor of the state, I will do everything within my power to protect the sovereignty of the House.
“Nigeria is governed by the constitution and me. Mr. President has always said we must follow the rule of law and do things according to the law.
“Nobody is above the Constitution of our country and so go about your regular duty as a parliament, the way Constitution prescribed.
“For us as Executive, we will use the instrument available to us constitutionally to protect the House and the state.”
Earlier while addressing journalists inside the premises of the Assembly, the Speaker, Frank Okiye alleged there were plans to invade the Assembly, though without providing any proof.
According to him, the “presence of security operatives and the ongoing renovation work on the Assembly building should deter those planning to invade the Assembly.”
Meawhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Media Campaign Council for the Edo Governorship election has distanced itself from the claim that its leadership imported police from Abuja to block the Edo Assembly complex, stating that the APC, as a political party, does not control the Police.
In a statement released Thursday morning by Mr. John Mayaki, the Chairman of the State Media Campaign Council, the APC, said: “It is a known fact that the outgoing Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has treated the House of Assembly, an independent and co-equal branch of government, as a mere extension of his office through the brutalization of members-elect and the denial of representation to the majority of members.
“In Gestapo style, the outgoing Governor hijacked a tiny minority and purportedly inaugurated them in the dead of the night. The sham inauguration was condemned and set aside by both arms of the National Assembly after their separate investigations revealed that the members, and indeed the Clerk, were forced to participate in the illegality under threat to life.”
